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The Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/2608 of 7 October 2024 amends Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 concerning the authorization and conditions of use for certain food additives within the European Union. Specifically, it addresses the use of powdered cellulose (E 460(ii)) and glucono-delta-lactone (E 575) in unripened soft spreadable cheese products.
Under this regulation, the following amendments are made to food category 01.7.6 “Cheese products (excluding products falling in category 16)”:
- The entry for powdered cellulose (E 460(ii)) is updated to authorize its use in “only grated and sliced ripened and unripened products; unripened soft spreadable cheese products” at a “quantum satis” level, meaning there is no specific maximum limit provided it is used according to good manufacturing practice.
- The entry for glucono-delta-lactone (E 575) is updated to authorize its use in “only ripened products; unripened soft spreadable cheese products” also at a “quantum satis” level.
The amendments allow manufacturers to use powdered cellulose (E 460(ii)) as a stabilizer in unripened soft spreadable cheese products. This additive binds whey and prevents its separation from the curd, ensuring product stability throughout its shelf life. Glucono-delta-lactone (E 575) is permitted as an acidity regulator in these products, functioning to acidify the milk mixture and coagulate casein without the need for lactic acid bacteria. This process enables a controlled pH reduction in a shorter time frame.
The inclusion of these additives in unripened soft spreadable cheese products aims to enhance production efficiency by reducing the required raw materials, energy consumption, and processing time. The regulation specifies that their use should adhere to the “quantum satis” principle, ensuring that the additives are used at the minimum level necessary to achieve the desired technological effect.
This regulation enters into force on the twentieth day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union and is binding in its entirety across all Member States.
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